Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-01-29
THAT OLD MAID.

"Dear me, there goes that old
maid! How glad 1 am that | will
never be one-that my wedding
day comes so soon."
The bright.faced girl sewing at
the window glanced up for mo-
ment at the sorrowtul figure passiue
by, then bent her head again over
the dainty garment which was to
be a part of her trousseau. Her
aunt at the opposite window did
not answer, looking after Miss Cor.
don with thoughtful expression.
81 do hate old maids, don't your
continued the young girl, lightly,
as her bright needle flashed III and
out of the iilmy iaces. | think it
wonld be perfectly dreadful to be
one. would rather marry CHI
nese; and then Miss Gordon is so
queer; she is so deaf,and she wears
those old.fasllioned collars that
surely have been made in the ark"
"My dear. dear Stella, how you
do taikm Mrs. Newcome laid down
her embroidery and looked at her
niece with reproving eyes. There
is no disgrace equal to that of mar
Tying without love, and as for Miss
Ccrlon's peculiar ways; they arc
all born of self sacrifices which
makes them beautiful i'll my estlm
alton. If you knew her life as we'll
as l do, you will see in it an inward
beauty which would hide all out
ward blemishes."
"But if she is so lovable, or was
so lovable, why did no man ever
love herf"
"My dear child, when Jennie
Gordon was your age she had more
lovers than you ever dreamed OF
having, for she was not only as
sweet and winning as yourself. but
she was rich, and men will always
follow in the wake Of gold; but she
refused them all-yes,even the man
she loved as you do Harry. And
for what-shall L tell you'"
eyes" Stella began to look in
terested.
"For the sake of a sister,"
"Why, how could that be'" Stel-
IN threaded her needle with
thoughtful inquiry in her face.
"Well, l have kept the story So
cred always, but / know you will re.
spect the confidence and [ think |
shall tell you Of it, for it will con-
vince you that the woman who
does not marry is often more noble
than the noblest wife and mother.
Wifehood and motherhood are the
highest phases of y woman's life,
yet the women who never knew
them are often moro exalted thro'
the Remuneration than they would
have been in the gaining.
"very few people speak Of old
maids in these days as you have
done. We are entering into a new
era for women. Fifty years ago it
Was considered a disgrace for a wo-
man not to marry. In these days
the world scarcely troubles itself
about the matter. The stronger in
dividuaIity OF women, their growing
Independence, place them in pc
sition where they are not depend
ant upon brother or husband for
They are free to choose,
and they do not care TO marry for
a home or name. Many noble,
selfsupporting women do not marry
because they are true to an ordeal.
They will not wed without love, and
is not this itself an advancel L
think in the old days many girls
were forced into unwelcOme mar
riages because of their fear OF old
maldism."
"But, dear auntie, you married,
and you have always warmly advo-
Gated marriage" Stella looked up
with a puzzled look in her bright
face.
"Of course; and I shall always do
right kind of marriages,
but 1t is better to live slugle al
WAYS than we'd for any other mo
tive than that of the divine one,
which is love and true fitness. Life
has no compensation equal to that
of strong, patient heart to lean
on. and no recompense so sweet for
care and pain as the clasp of little
clinging arms, that bring love and
beauty with them. The woman
who has never known these joys is
to be pitied, but to those who are
denied may belong nobility and
of soul that is equal to
the highest type of maternity.
Stella looked at her aunt with
an awakening wonder. She was
impressed with her words, and this
plea for single women had all the
more weight since it came from a
devoted wife and a woman who
had been more than a mother to
her. The idea was new to her, yet
it seemed so very beautiful. She
had never thought of it in that
light before.
"Jennle Gordon has had a very
bitter liie." Mrs Newcome said; "no
wonder her shoulders are dropping
and her face sad. Her life has been